Christmas tree stand



1962 s. WAGNER ETAL 3,051,423

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed April 27, 1953 IITZVE.ZYD.ZTEI

United States Patent Ofi[ice 3051423 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3051,423 CSTMAS TREE STAND Samuel Wagner, Sheridan, Wy0. and Theodore K. Kellner Box 237, 1315 Ellis St. Waukesha, Wis. Filed Am. 27, 1953, Ser. N0. 351,446 2 Ciaims. (C1. 24845) This invention relates to a Christmas tree stand and more particularly to a tree-supporting stand which is readily constructed and assembled, durable, easily filled with water and in which the tree may be readily disposed and manipulated.

According to this invention, a tree-supporting stand may include a Water-tight container including a frustoconical shaped funnel-like top having a central opening for reception of the tree trunk. The funnel-like top, of course, aids in filling the container With water for the tree. For support of the tree trunk, a sleeve is preferably fixed within the opening in the top and means such as thurnb screws are threaded through the Walls cf the sleeve. Holes are provided in the top adjacent the sleeve for filling the container with water.

In accordance with a highly important feature of the invention, the bottom of the container has a central cup-shaped recess and a member arranged to be secured to the end of the tree trunk has a rounded surface portion riding in the recess with a minirnurn of friction. By this feature, the thumb screws, or other trunk-holding means, may be loosened and the tree readily rotated about its axis so as to be easily decorated. The membar may be of a plastic material although other materials such as wood and metal are suitable, and it preferably has a screw embedded therein for securing the sarne to the end of the tree trunk.

In accordance With a specific feature of the invention, the bottom is stamped from sheet metal and has a doWn-turned annular peripheral flange and a sheet metal ring forms the side of the container and tightly embraces at its lower end of the peripheral flange of the bottom. The lower edges of the ring is folded outwardly and upwardly to form a searn and the 1ower edge of the peripheral flange of the bottom is folded outwardly and upwardly about said searn so as to forrn a double seam and provide a streng and durable construction.

In accordance with another specific feature of the invention, the funnel-like top is stamped from sheet metal and has an upturned annular peripheral flange fitted Within the annular side Wall With the upper edge of the upturned flange being turned inwardly and downwardly and with the upper edge of the annular side Wall being turned inwardly and downwardly thereabout so as to form a double seam which is very streng and durable.

An object of this invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved tree-supporting stand which is readily coustructed and assembled and yet is streng and durab1e.

Another object cf this invention is to provide an improved tree-supporting stand including a water-tight container and a funnel-like top by which the container may be readily filled with water for feeding the tree trunk.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tree-supporting stand in which a tree may be readily disposed, manipulated and secured.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for the base of a tree by which it is rendered readily rotatable within a supporting stand.

This invention conternplates other objects, features and advantages which Will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accornpanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tree-supporting stand ernbdying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through the stand of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along lines IIII; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view of the attachment constituting an important feature of this invention.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 10 generally designates a tree-supporting stand embodying the principles of this invention. The stand 10 is in the form of a water-tight eontainer which may be of a stamped sheet metal construction, although other forrns of coustruction are suitable. In accordance With an irnportant feature of the invention, the stand 10 has a frusto-conically shaped funnel-like top 11 which has a central opening for reception of a tree trunk 12. T0 hold the tree trunk 12 in position, a sleeve 13 is fixed within the central apening in the top 11, a down-turned annular fiange 14 about the opening being =tightly engaged With the lower end cf the sleeve 13. A plurality of thumb screws 15 are threaded through the wall of the sleeve 13 t0 engage the tree trunk 12, plates 16 being disposed at the ends of the thurnb screws 15 to prevent the screws frorn becoming embedded in the tree trunk 12.

At least one and preferably a plurality of holes 17 are provided in the top 11 adjacent the sleeve 13. T0 fill the stand 10 with water for absorption by the tree trunk, the water is n1erely poured into the funnel-like top 11 and it Will drain through the holes 17 into the space about the lower end of the tree trunk 12. It will be apparent that the large area and funnel-like form of the top 11 makes it easy to fill the stand With water without spilling any Water.

The stand 111 has a botton1 18 which may preferably be starnped from sheet metal and has a central cup-like recess 19 in alignment With the sleeve 13. A side wall 29 may be of annular form and defined by a ring of sheet metal. For rigidity and for 0rnarnental appearance, the side Wall ring 20 may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical rib-like projections 21 as illustration in FIGURE 1.

A specific feature of the inventin is in the manner in which the bottorn 18 is secured to the annular side Wall 20. According to this feature, the bottom 18 has a downturned annular peripheral fiange 22 which is tightly ernbraced by the lower end -of the annular side Wall 20. The lower edge of the side Wall 29 is folded outwardly and upwardly to define a first seam 23 and the lower edge of the annular flange 22 is folded outwardly and upwardly at 24 about the first seam 23 to thereby define a double searn and provide a rigid, durable water-tight juncture as well as a rounded edge for engaging the supporting surface for the stand.

Another specific feature of the invention is in the manner in which the top 11 is secured to the annular side Wall 219. The top 11 has an up-turned annular peripheral flange 25 which is tightly embraced by the upper end portion o-f the annular side wall 20 and has an upper edge turned 01 folded inwardly and downwardly to define a first seam with the upper edge of the annular side Wall 20 being turned inwardly and downwardly at 26 about said first seam to thereby define a double seam and provide a secure interengagement between the top 11 and the annular side Wall 20 with no objectionable sharp edges.

A further and highly important f-eature of the invention is in an attachrnent 27 for supporting the lower terminal end of the three trunk 12 in the recess 19 in the bottom 18. This attach.rnent 27 is rounded surface portions for engaging within the recess 19 with -a mim'rnum of frietion so that the tree may be readily rotated for ease in decorating the same and to obtain the optimurn position ing thereof. The attachment may be preferably of a plastic material although wood, metal 0r other materials are, ot' course, satisfactory. For economy cf material, the attachment may preferably take the form illustrated in which it includes a central body portion 27a and a plu rality 01 circumferentially spaced radia]ly extending ribs 27b. As noted above, the surfaces of the attachment 27 are rounded for riding in the recess 19 With a. minimum of friction and they may preferably be of segmental spherical form.

T0 secure the attachment 27 to the lower terminal end of the tree Trunk 12, a screw 28 is embedded therein and arranged 10 be threaded into the end portion of the tree trunk 12.

lt will be under stood that modifications and variations may be eifected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We clairn as our invention:

1. A tree-supporting stand, comprising:

( 1) =a bottorn having a central cup-shaped recess, rneans rigidly connected to said bottom and including (a) a member substantially above said recess defining an opening coaxial with said recess and adapted to have a tree trunk passed therethrough in radially spa :ed relation,

(b) said member carrying a circumferentially spaced plurality of tree trunk retaining screws -threadedly operable on radial a:xes and having plate elements on their trunk-engaging ends 10 engage the tree trunk and prevent embedding of the screw ends in the tree trunk but arranged f01' engaging and loosely holding at -tirnes the tree tn1nk in alignment with said recess,

(2) and a member arranged 10 be secured to the end 4 of a tree trunk and having segrnental spherical surface portions in the form of circumferentially spaced radially and upwardly extending ribs for riding in said recess with a minimum of friction, whereby the tree can be rotated in the stand.

2. A tree-supporting stand, comprising:

(1) a bottom having a central cup-shaped recess,

means secured to said -bottom for engaging and holding a tree trunk in alignment With said recess,

(2) and a mernber arranged to be secured to the end 01 a tree trunk and having segmental spherical surface portions in the form 0f circumferentially spaced radially and upwardly extending ribs for riding in said recess witn a minimum of friction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,217 Kirnsey Oct. 14, 1902 780,910 Peters Jan. 24 1905 1159353 Bergwall Nov. 9, 1915 1,241,127 Krapf Sept. 25, 1917 1631227 See Inne 7, 1927 1789789 Tallmadge Jan. 20, 1931 1,805649 Wermine May 19, 1931 1,846891 'M11161' Feb. 23, 1932 2613899 Wagner et a1. Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,948 Germany Oct. 5, 1935 

